Read More

Related Articles

One of the few times I have run into a fellow Fulham fan on this continent was one afternoon playing football in my Fulham shirt in Johannesburg. My opposite number, who was the head of Africa for Reuters, stopped in his tracks, shook my hand and there was two minutes of smiling and:

“You are kidding.”

“No, YOU are kidding.”

So when I tell you I couldn’t bear to listen to the Rotherham game on Saturday, you must understand that Fulham are almost never on cable TV here and I pay a monthly prescription to gentleman Jim McGullion.

I think I once went on a boat with him from Putney Bridge to Greenwich about 25 years ago for an away game against Leyton Orient (1-0, Sean Farrell headed the winner from a rebound 15 minutes from the end).

Not only that, I always appreciate his enthusiasm, as a fan, and the fact that he doesn’t herald a last gasp goal against us, with : “What a beautiful strike, what a fantastic goal …blah, blah.” Rather the more tactful and dry: “As you can hear..(sigh) they’ve scored the winner.”

(Image: Alistair Wilson)

I even smile at the odd: “Get up! Get up ! That was a dive!”

Anyway, it has been a pleasure to tune in to Jim this season, after three very barren years, as he describes the flowing, passing, game that Fulham’s talented side is making their own; the kind of flair and attacking football not seen since the cavalier days of Jean Tigana nearly 20 years ago.

I think Slavisa Jokanovic is tough, has a plan, and every chance of driving Fulham out of the division.

Just think of the despair and threat of relegation just a year ago and how Jokanovic has turned it around.

I will be listening to the Derby County game on Tuesday late in the African night (Our clocks are one hour ahead). After that I could pronounce on promotion hopes. Until then, I will be using the Fulham fan’s friend – prayer.